TN Chief Minister meets Modi; PM says matter is sub judice; State govt says it will bring in ordinance
With the protests against the ban on Jallikattu (bull-taming sport) spreading from Chennai to Delhi, the Centre continued to be in a dilemma.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam here on Thursday that while he fully understood the sentiments of the people, the issue was sub judice. Modi, however, assured the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister that the Centre would support the steps taken by the state government, apparently throwing the ball in his court.
Briefing media after the meeting, the Chief Minister said that his government will take steps to enable Jallikattu with the Centre'ssupport. He said that he has urged the Centre to issue an ordinance.
In Tamil Nadu, more celebrities like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Surya, Vijay, Chiyaan Vikram and music maestro AR Rahman extended support to the ongoing protest.
Apart from students, Tamil lawyers in Supreme Court took out a march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar, raising slogans against People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the ban on Jallikattu. 'Jallikattu' stir spreads to Lanka, UK and Australia
On Thursday, protests also spread to outside India with the Tamil diaspora in Sri Lanka, Britain and Australia holding demonstrations against the ban. A Madurai report said inmates in the central prison in the city observed a fast in support of jallikattu.
AIADMK chief Sasikala has also written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking an ordinance. She said that Jallikattu is an age-old heritage of Tamil Nadu and a sport symbolising bravery and it should be allowed. The protests entered the third day on Thursday, with thousands more joining. At Alangaanallur in Madurai district, people are occupying public spaces for the fourth day seeking a removal of the ban.
Sources here said that while a number of cabinet ministers were in favour of an ordinance to overturn the Supreme Court (SC)judgement, the dissenting voices led by Union minister Maneka Gandhi and the law and environment ministries have tied government's hands. Sources here said that the Prime Minister was closely monitoring the situation since Wednesday.
They further said that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was in constant touch with the environment and law ministries. Officials from both ministries on Thursday held several meetings to prepare a draft that would make the bull-taming sport legal again. But they were yet to overcome many legal hurdles.
It was agreed that in case the apex court admits the petition filed by a lawyer Raja Raman on Thursday,the Attorney General would tell the court that a law was being drafted to address the concerns of court. But there are others advising the government not to issue an ordinance as it would be seen as a parallel to theRajiv Gandhi government's infamous act to nullify an apex court judgment through an act of legislation in 1986 in the Shah Bano case to disallow maintenance to divorced Muslim women.
The SC on Thursday refused to hear Raja Raman's plea on theprotests in Marina Beach. A Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar, refused to hear the plea of the lawyer who had sought that the court should hear the matter.
The SC asked the lawyer to file an appropriate plea in the MadrasHigh Court for relief. Raja Raman, in his plea, mentioned that the matter was before the apex court and pleaded that it should take suo motu cognisance. "The public there were staging a peaceful protest, but the police were not even allowing them to take food and water. So this court should take suo motu cognisance," the petitioner said.
"#jallikattu is a cultural symbol. Respect it. Im all for animal rights but here that is not the point. tradition & livelihood are. my state rises again. In unison. In peace. Proud to be a #tamizhanda. Genext here are modern yet culturally rooted #JusticeforJallikattu,"
– Vishwanathan Anand
"I'm fasting tomorrow to support the spirit of Tamilnadu!" – AR Rahman
"Our campaign is against cruelty towards all animals. We will consult our lawyers and take a decision if there is an ordinance. There are various other humane conservation methods to protect the indigenous breed. Jallikattu is not the only way."
– PETA spokesperson Manilal Valliyate.
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